Improvement in handles of pocket-knives



'ra ef/ZM? Hainilefarzfe; 'el N0. 118,675. l I Patented Sep. 5,1871.

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CICERO BECKHAM, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,675, datedSeptember 5, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CICERO BECKHAM, ofthe city and county of Alexandriaand State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inHandles for Pocket-Knives, Snc.; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and eXactdescription thereof', suiiicient to enablethose skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fullyunderstand and to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which-Fignre 1 is a side view of a pocket-knife with a handle made accordingto my invention. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same 5 and Fig. 3 is a topview, the blade being open.

Heretofore the springs of pocket-knives and similar instruments havebeen generally made separately from the handle and afterward affixedthereto.

The object of my invention is to cheapen the manufacture of this classof articles, and at the same time increase their strength, durability,and usefulness. To this end my invention consists in the formation ofthe spring in one piece with the handle, as hereinafter more fullydescribed. 1

The accompanying drawing represents a pocket-knife composed of a handle,c, and spring b made in one piece, and a blade, @,pivoted in the handleat d. In the manufacture of pocketknives according to my invention thehandle and spring will be preferably and generally made of cast-steel,forged in one piece and then bent into the form represented or othersuitable shape. The blade or blades are then attached by means of arivet, d, which is the only rivet required in the knife. The body of thehandle is, ofcourse, open to receive the blade. The end e of the springforms a tenon which enters a recess of corresponding shape in thehandle. The inner end of the blade, which is made as usual, acts uponthis tenon.

Knives made as above described can be manufactured as cheaply if not atless cost than those in which the spring is separate, and they are,'obviously, stronger and more durable.

I do not limit myself to the precise form shown, nor do I confine theapplication of the invention to knives, as it is plain that otherinstruments may be provided with'handles and springs made in one piece;but I do not wish to be understood as claiming al1 kinds ofspring-handles, for 11andles of cork-screws have long been made more orless elastic to hold the screw in its open or closed position. Myinvention is not, then, the construction of the Ahandle so as to possessin itself elasticity 5 but it consists, simply, in making the springwhat might be called a continuation of the handle and in one piece withit, the handle proper, or the part in which the blade is riveted, notserving in any manner as a spring.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improvement in the manufacture of pocket-knives and otherinstruments of that class, the formation of the spring c and handle a inone piece, substantially as herein described.

Witnesses: GIUERO BECKHAM.

GEO. W. ROTHWELL, THOMAS R. BROWN.

